Recorder Fingering Chart

for

• Basics • Alternates • Trills •

PRINTER FRIENDLY CHART

Blank Template
L Thumb T L Index 1 - Middle 2 - Ring 3 R Index 1 - Middle 2 - Ring 3 - Pinky 4 Bell Key or Thigh

In the upper back of the Recorder. Use the Left thumb.

In the top front of the Recorder. Use your Left hand!

In the bottom front of the Recorder. If the Recorder is three piece, adjust the bell so that the bottom double hole is at a comfortable reach for your right pinky. Use your Right hand!

Hole at the end of the Recorder. Covered either by pressing bell against thigh (difficult in fast passages) or having a specially bell key installed.

Legend
Open Hole/Key
Closed Hole/Key
Vented Hole
Tuning Hole For Alternates
Open Double Hole/Key
Closed Double Hole/Key
Half Closed Double Hole
This Fingering Chart applies to all Recorders that read music off of the Treble/G Clef. Recorders in C (Soprano/Descant Recorders) will finger a written Middle C as all fingers down (bell hole still open). Recorders in F (Sopranino and Alto/Treble Recorders will finger a written F above middle C (F4) as all fingers down (again, with bell hole still open). Sopranino and Soprano Recorders will sound a P8 (one Octave) above written. Alto and Tenor Recorders will sound the written pitch.

Alternatively, in order to simplify playing F Recorders for those who only know the C Recorder Fingerings, the music written for for F Recorders may be transposed down a P4 (Perfect Fourth - 5 half-steps) The Sopranino would then sound up a P12 (P8 and a P4 up) from the written note, and the Alto will sound up a P4. However, you should view this only as a temporary convenience. It is best to eventually learn to read F Recorder music as its written.

The range of the Recorder is surprisingly wide, however, the extreme high notes are usually disagreeable to the average human ear. This is the range covered in this fingering chart for interest purposes only.

This is the range of notes in which most of the literature for the Recorder is written, but note that sometimes the Alto Recorder can play notes higher than this range and still sound pleasing.

Note Name

Fingering

Purpose/Comments

C Recorder

F Recorder

L Th

Left Hand

Right Hand

BK

First Octave - Steady air pressure, do not blow
too hard for notes lower than E4 (C Rcrdrs.) / A4 (F Rcrdrs.)
C4 F4 Basic
C#4 / Db4 F#4 / Gb4 Basic
D4 G4 Basic
D#4/ Eb4 G#4 / Ab4 Basic
E4 A4 Basic
F4 A#4 / Bb4 Basic
F#4 / Gb4 B4 Basic
G4 C5 Basic
G#4 / Ab4 C#5 / Db5 Basic
A4 D5 Basic
A#4 / Bb4 D#5 / Eb5 Basic
Usually unstable.
B4 E5 Basic
Alternate/Trill: B-C
C5 F5 Basic
Alternate
Trill: Bb-C
C#5 / Db5 F#5 / Gb5 Basic
Alternate
D5 G5 Basic
Trill: D-Eb/E
Adjust vent size to tune.

Second Octave - Faster but controlled air will help
flip the note up into this register.
D#5 / Eb5 G#5 / Ab5 Basic
Trill: D-Eb; Eb-F (lift R2)
E5 A5 Basic
Alternate/Trill: E-F#
Trill: E-F
F5 A#5 / Bb5 Basic
Trill: Eb-F, not for attacks
F#5 / Gb5 B5 Basic
G5 C6 Basic
G#5 / Ab5 C#6 / Db6 Basic
A5 D6 Basic

Third Octave - Be secure in how you vent with your thumb.
Adjust as necessary until a clear tone is produced. It has
big impact on the tone quality of the notes in this range.
A#5 / Bb5 D#6 / Eb6 Basic
B5 E6 Basic
C6 F6 Basic
Alternate/Trill: B-C

Advanced Range! Adjusting size of vent is crucial for this range.
C#6 / Db6 F#6 / Gb6 Advanced!
Alternate
Alternate
Alternate
D6 G6 Advanced!
Alternate
D#6 / Eb6 G#6 / Ab6 Advanced!
E6 A6 Advanced!

Extremely Difficult Range! Almost Impossible!
F6 A#6 / Bb6 Advanced - TINY VENTS
F#6 / Gb6 B6 Advanced - TINY VENTS
G6 C7 Advanced - TINY VENTS
G#6 / Ab6 C#7 / Db7 Advanced - TINY VENTS
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1